Facial cleaner



Oct. 8, 1946. G. LJNDBLAD I FACIAL CLEANER Filed Feb. 24

Patented Oct. 8, 1946 FACIAL CLEANER George L. Lindblad, Chicago, Ill.

Application February 24, 1944, Serial No. 523,719

2 Claims.

The invention here disclosed relates to facial cleaners and applicators and is an improvement on the device shown in my application Ser. No. 424,211, new Patent No. 2,347,355.

The novel construction shown in that application is satisfactory and useful, and the present development is designed to improve, by additional features, the cleaner and applicator there shown.

The present form of the device embodies the respiratory or breather principle disclosed in my earlier case. It differs in structural make-up, however, and has distinctive and novel features over anything heretofore known to me. It is pro- 'vided with an enlarged air chamber, as shown,

and the cleaning and massaging element, the sponge, is so developed that an improved respiratory action is secured and a more copious and satisfactory application and distribution of the cleaning fluid is brought about. This is accomplished by so fashioning the sponge through which the cleaning fluid passes and the respiratory action takes place that there will be, in addition to the delivery through the pores of the sponge proper, a direct delivery passage for fluid and air through an unobstructed passage in the sponge, so that the cleaning fluid will spread uniformly over the top of the sponge; ensure suflicient delivery of the cleaner compound or material to the applicator surface, and improve to a considerable degree the respiratory or breather action.

In the drawing herewith is illustrated one form of my invention, and that the best now known to me, and in said drawing:

Figure 1 is a view in side elevation of the cleaner.

Figure 2 is a sectional view of the cleaner shown in Figure 1, and

Figure 3 is a top plan view partly in section of the cleaner.

Referring to the drawing by numbers, like numbers indicating like parts in the several views, the cleaner is made up of a flexible casing having an air chamber and a sponge holding-top. The air chamber i is made somewhat larger than the top portion and preferably of the form shown, in order to give a sufiicient supply of air and give a convenient and sure handhold for the operation. It is made of any flexible material, such as rubber, so that it may be readily compressed to force out or entrain air as it is compressed and released. In order to strengthen the wall of the air chamber l0, it will preferably be provided with ribs ll, here shown as external ribs, which not only strengthen the device, but give greater resiliency to it and quicker response to expansion On release. Rising from this enlarged air chamber is the top or neck portion 12, in which is cemented or otherwise secured the sponge member l3. Preferably, the neck 12 will be provided on its inner Wall surface with sponge gripping means and this may be conveniently done by curving or bellying the wall inwardly to give a retaining or gripping surface to receive the sponge I3.

The sponge is preferably crowned'and is divided by a flexible impervious membrane I8 of rubber or other suitable material, the edge ll of the membrane H3 being turned down over the lower sponge member 20 as at 2| and secured to the wall of the casing. The membrane 18 divides the sponge insert into a lower part 20 and an upper part 22, communication being established between them through an opening 23 in membrane 18. The opening 23 is here shown as centrally placed in the membrane I8, but it will be understood that it may be differently placed and more than one opening provided if desired.

The lower sponge part 2| is provided with a depression or recess 24 in communication with the opening 23 in the membrane it, so that, when the casing I1 is compressed or expanded, flow of the cleansing fluid will occur. From the recess 24 a passage 25 extends through the upper sponge member 22 for delivery and distribution of cleansing fluid.

This construction has the advantage of centralizing flow from the chamber of casing I! and the lower sponge member 2| and delivery to the upper sponge member in a regulated and directed manner. Because of the arrangement of the passage 25 and the membrane t8, the respiratory action acts along or as near the outer surface of the sponge and the skin as is possible,

thereby rendering the application of the cleaner and the cleaning fluid very effective.

The device may take any form desired in horizontal cross section, but is here shown as oval, as that has been found to be a very convenient form. Further, since variations in make-up and design may be made without departing from the principle of the invention, such changes are to be regarded as within the purview of my invention as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A facial cleaner comprising a cup-like member formed of rubber-like material and having substantially straight side walls cooperating to form a sponge receiving section, a sponge secured to the inner surface of the side walls and having stitute a diaphragm to force the air in the pocket 7 through the sponge without substantially compressing the same and thereby produce a gentle respiratory action upon the skin.

2. A facial cleaner comprising a cup-like member formed of rubber-like material and having substantially straight side walls cooperating to form a sponge receiving section, a sponge secured to the inner surface of the side walls and having an exposed skin engaging surface terminating adjacent the open end of the member, and an impervious flexible membrane provided with an opening dividing said sponge into inner and outer parts, the inner part of said sponge having a recess communicating with the opening in said membrane, said outer sponge part having an unobstructed passage leading from the recess to the outer face of said sponge, the base of said member being collapsible and rounded outwardly from the inner surface of the sponge to form therewith an air pocket, whereby when the sponge is applied to the face, the base may be collapsed and constitute a diaphragm to force the air in the pocket through the sponge without substantially compressing the same and thereby produce a gentle respiratory action upon the skin.

GEORGE L. LINDBLAD. 

